Ready:
"Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm." – Psalm 20:7-8
Set:
David is writing this psalm before going into battle. He knew what kings and their people often trusted in: human strength and material things. I first memorized Psalm 20:7 when I was a teenager, but I didn’t fully understand what it meant. Another translation uses the word “trust” instead of take pride. I wondered why someone would trust in chariots and horses; those things seem so small and powerless. But in the context of the time this is written, chariots and horses were way more powerful than foot soldiers, so kings and people would often put all their trust and pride in them.
A modern version of this in the sport world would be, “Some athletes take pride in their performance, and others in their own image, but we take pride in the name of the LORD our God.” As Christian athletes, we don’t put our trust or pride in anything except the name of the Lord. Why? Because everything else is fading away. Performance is one mistake or injury away from turning on you. Self-image is a difficult god to keep up. Some athletes think just because they’ve practiced and put in the effort, they deserve to win. Other athletes take pride in their family name; they think “Since my last name is ___ , I’ll definitely secure a good spot on the lineup or a position on the field.”
The reality is, the name of the LORD our God is the only name that is secure and firm. The other things we put our trust in collapse and fall, just like the text says. Trusting in the name of the LORD means trusting in His character. God’s name isn’t magical or a ritual chant that ensures us a win or success. His Name speaks of His character and His faithfulness which is trustworthy from the beginning of time until the end.
David says it best when he tells us what some do and what others do, but WE don’t do that. We don’t have to follow the crowd. Many of the other kings and people of David’s day trusted in chariots and horses, but he wasn’t going to. He decided to be set apart. Was he perfect? Absolutely not. Did he trust God? He did.
Go:
What are you putting your trust in today?
What are practical steps you can take to trust God more?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your character and how You’ve remained the same. No matter how much the times change, your faithfulness remains the same. I pray You will show me in my heart where I am trusting in chariots, horses, or any other earthly thing. I only want my trust to be in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”